Spanish immersion program wins embassy award

Student Cami Moore, center, discusses a lesson with group member Sarah Chernow, at right. The Laguna Hills High School students attend a program that has been recognized by the Spanish Embassy. The school's K-12 Spanish language immersion program has become a successful model for other institutions. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAGUNA HILLS – For first-year George Washington University student Marissa Salgado, one of the most exciting experiences of her freshman year involved reconnecting with her high school roots.

Salgado, 18, was one of three former Saddleback Valley Unified School District Spanish immersion students who accompanied Laguna Hills High teacher Tonya Iribarne to the Spanish Embassy in Washington, D.C., in September to accept the School of the Year: Academic Excellence in Spanish award from the embassy's Education Office.

"It was surreal, us all being together with our teacher, who we consider a second mom, accepting an award for this program of which we're all so proud," Salgado said Tuesday by phone from Washington. "We felt so proud to represent everyone in our immersion family. To have that honor was really special. It was one of the coolest experiences I've had this year."

Salgado is pursing a double major in international affairs and Spanish at George Washington, a career path she said has benefited at every turn from her experiences in the immersion program.

She said she recently breezed through a Spanish literature class intended for juniors and seniors: "I felt totally at home because I did that in high school."

The high school program is the culmination of the district's K-12 immersion program, which also takes place at Gates Elementary School and Los Alisos Middle School.

This is the third year the embassy has recognized with the award an academic program that integrates Spanish and English. The award brings with it $10,000 in materials from a Spanish publisher, $5,000 cash for program materials and a one-week trip to Spain for language studies for a teacher.

"It felt natural to apply," said Iribarne, the Laguna Hills High teacher who put together the application. "I felt confident because our program's so strong."

According to Carmen Fernández Santás, education adviser from Spain's general consul, more than 500 schools nationwide entered the competition.

Santás presented a $5,000 check to the school in a ceremony last week.

"It is very prestigious and a great acknowledgement of their hard work," she said.

It was the first time the school applied for the award, Iribarne said.

The embassy was impressed with the program's tenure – the school recently graduated its 10th class – and its close connection with the other Saddleback Valley Unified schools that house the district's K-12 immersion program.

"It's very important the way they work jointly," Santás said. "That's what makes Laguna Hills so successful in terms of the immersion program."

Other aspects that stood out were the school's ties with international studies educators at UC Irvine and its commitment to cultural learning, exhibited in experiences such as a visit to a Spanish-language film festival in Hollywood, Santás said.

Students who complete the program have the chance to earn a Cervantes diploma, certifying internationally their mastery of Spanish.

Laguna Hills High immersion program students annually record the highest scores nationwide on the exam, Santás said.

The trio of students now studying in D.C. who accompanied Iribarne to the September award inspired education publisher Santillana to double the value of materials it was awarding to the school from $5,000 to $10,000, Iribarne said.

Student Cami Moore, center, discusses a lesson with group member Sarah Chernow, at right. The Laguna Hills High School students attend a program that has been recognized by the Spanish Embassy. The school's K-12 Spanish language immersion program has become a successful model for other institutions. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Hannah Milligan, a freshman at Laguna Hills High School, offers up her grade of another student's speech recited in Spanish. The school's K-12 Spanish language immersion program has become a model for other institutions. The school was honored by the Spanish Embassy for its K-12 Spanish language immersion program. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jack Brouwer fist bumps fellow student Cynthia Landa who got the correct answer to a question posed in Spanish during a Spanish language immersion class for freshmen at Laguna Hills High School Monday. The school has won an award from the Spanish Embassy for its entire K-12 program. Spanish was spoken exclusively in this class. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Instructor Maria Di Antonio challenges freshman students in her Spanish language immersion course at Laguna Hills High School on Monday. The school has won an award from the Spanish Embassy for its K-12 program. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A reading lesson titled "A Letter to God," is among one of the lessons for freshman students attending the Spanish immersion class at Laguna Hills High School. "Faith and Friendship" was the theme of the day. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Freshman Victoria Slaybaugh reacts with embarrassment while grading another student's recitation in Spanish. Laguna Hills High School has won an award from the Spanish Embassy for its K-12 Spanish language immersion program. Spanish was spoken exclusively in this class. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Freshman Izabella Bejarano, at right, asks a question of Spanish language teacher Maria Di Antonio, at left. Laguna Hills High School has won an award from the Spanish Embassy for its K-12 Spanish language immersion program. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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